Registered voters in the Santa Clarita Valley who wish to cast their ballots by mail can request a mail-in ballot starting Monday, a county voting official said.

Those voters have three options: they can fill out the application on the back of the sample ballots, which began arriving at homes after Sept. 24, register at the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Web site www.lavote.net, or send a letter to registrar's office, said spokeswoman Marcia Ventura.

Application request letters must be mailed to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 12400 Imperial Highway Norwalk, CA 90650. Vote by mail ballots are automatically sent to voters who have previously requested to permanently vote by mail, Ventura said.

Voting by mail has increased in popularity during the past few elections, Ventura said.

"It's a convenient way to vote," she said. "People can vote on their own time and in their own home."

Mail-in ballots must be received by the County Registrar's office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, regardless of when the ballot is postmarked, Ventura said.

Voters can also drop off mail-in ballots at polling places on election day.